Dr. Eugene Parker of Southampton Dies September 9

Dr. Eugene Parker, O.D, of Southampton died on September 9, with his wife Elizabeth and daughters Allison and Jessica by his side. He was 64.

Born on February 19, 1960, in Glen Cove, to Roscoe and Stella Parker, he was the youngest of seven kids and an identical twin. He had a fierce competitive spirit, an incredible work ethic, a wry and goofy sense of humor, a strong sense of community, and a love for family and friends, according to his family.

He attended and graduated from Syosset High School. He was extremely active and interested in sports, taking part in many town leagues, camps, and pick-up games throughout his childhood. He earned his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oneonta, where he met his wife and several lifelong friends. He then went on to earn his Doctor of Optometry from SUNY Optometry in New York City.

He bought his practice, Hamptons Eye and Vision, in 1988 and had immense pride as a small business owner. He loved what he did and loved helping people in the community. He took his job seriously, always keeping up on the latest medical journals, attending courses, and traveling the United States for optometry conventions, building a strong network of other optometrists across Long Island and New York.

For years, he participated in the Rotary Club, before joining the Southampton Golf Club, where he had a standing tee time with his closest friends for almost 30 years, prompting countless memories and shared golf trips across the world.

Most important of all were his family and friends. He and his wife shared a beautiful marriage for 39 years and raised two daughters, who he encouraged to study hard, be active, and focus on their careers and family.

Despite being a busy business owner, he always showed up for school concerts, plays, sports games, dinner, and bedtime. He shared a carefree sense of humor with his daughters, his siblings, and close friends that brought many laughs along the way. As he became a grandfather, he was always game for getting a laugh out of them and he relished playtime with them, never above getting down on the floor and immersed in their world of pretend.

“He is so proud of his family, the lives they’ve all created, and the people they’ve become and they in turn will remember and cherish his legacy,” his family said.

He was predeceased by his parents, Roscoe and Stella Parker; and his sister Stella Gilder. He is survived by his wife Liz; daughter and son-in-law Allison and Paul Persiani; daughter and son-in-law Jessica and Noah Goldberg; grandchildren Parker and Palmer Persiani and Ezra and Sasha Goldberg.

Donations in his memory may be made to East End Hospice (eeh.org) or Fight Colorectal Cancer (fightcolorectalcancer.org).